McDowell carded a final round 68 at Loch Lomond to finish 13 under par, two shots ahead of South African James Kingston, with Australia's Richard Green and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez a shot further back in third spot.

The £500,000 first prize lifted the 28-year-old from Portrush from 10th to sixth in the Ryder Cup standings and only an extraordinary series of results can deny him a place in Nick Faldo's side to defend the trophy at Valhalla in September.

"I put the Ryder Cup up there with winning majors," said McDowell, winner of the Ballantine's Championship in Korea earlier in the season. "It's something I have really, really desperately wanted.

"I refused to be measured for my Ryder Cup clothes last week but maybe I will accept next time. It's never over until it's over of course but this is a massive step in the right direction. It will be a dream come true."

England's Simon Khan held a two-shot lead after 11 holes of the final round but double-bogeyed the 12th and 17th to finish fifth, but at least had the consolation of securing the final place on offer in the Open at Royal Birkdale.

Khan held his nerve to par the last with a superb chip from just off the green when a bogey would have handed the spot to Scotland's Stephen Gallacher, who closed with a superb 64.

McDowell and Khan began the day tied for the lead and were still locked together at the turn on 12 under par.

Khan then moved two shots clear after a birdie on the 11th followed McDowell's bogey on the 10th, but that lasted just one hole as the 36-year-old from Essex ran up a double bogey six on the 12th, needing two attempts to chip up a steep slope onto the putting surface after his approach came up short of the green.

McDowell moved into the outright lead with a birdie on the 13th and after both players had birdied the short par-four 14th – McDowell two-putting after driving the green – the decisive moment came on the 15th.

Khan took a bogey five after pushing his drive into deep rough while McDowell hit a superb approach to three feet for birdie to open up a three-shot cushion.

"This is just unbelievable," McDowell added. "It really was a tough weekend's golf with such a stacked field. It's a massive relief.

"It's one of the toughest finishes in European golf and I don't think I've ever shook as much as I was coming down the stretch.

"I've never had a two-shot lead coming down the last hole and I much prefer it to the stress and drama I normally put my mum (Marian) and dad (Kenny) through and it's great to have them here.

"My dad first put a club in my hand aged seven and he's been with me for 20 years, through thick and thin. He just retired last Friday.

"This is my retirement present to him. He's an emotional man and I'm sure there'll be a few tears tonight."

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